Psalm 127:1-2–Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation

Posted by Seth on Dec 9, 2009 in Bible Study, Daily Devotions |

Psalm 127:1-2–Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation

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Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Psalm 127:1-2 wherein we are reminded of God’s power over our circumstances and a raising of the standard that such knowledge brings.

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Solomon, who is attributed with this Psalm, was a builder or at least in charge of an entire host of such people. Nobody would have looked at the result of his work and said that his labors were in vain, but he had a commission from the Lord through his father and God’s hand upon him was evident. The temple building that he had charge over constructing was said to be absolutely magnificent. But whether or not something comes out looking pretty is really beside the point. There is a specific statement here made about whether or not our labors truly speak to how great (or insignificant) our work is. For who gives man breath and ability? Who keeps him alive today and may take his life tomorrow? The Scriptures reveal that the answer is God. We can work hard, do our jobs well, and seek to be productive (and we should do these things!), but God is ultimately behind the success or failure of any of these activities. We can give ourselves over to worry about tomorrow or place our confidence in our own abilities, but neither of these responses will thwart God’s plan.

There is certainly dispute among Christians as to the relationship between human responsibility and God’s sovereignty, but however we try to sort that out, passages like this one remind us that God ultimately calls the shots. Lest we become apathetic in realizing this or lazy in our pursuits, we would do well to remind ourselves that God rewards the faithful. As we observe presently, the watchman mentioned in these verses does well in God’s eyes to stay awake even though there might be a man who slips past him in the night while he moves his gaze to an opposite location along the city wall. Our success then is ultimately measured by God and not man. If we really think about it, though it can cause us to cease from anxiousness in our beds, coming to this realization does anything but lower the standard. It should actually only increase our desire to do well in exercising our gifts, performing our jobs, and practicing wise stewardship of all we’ve been given. Honoring God with an interest in the progress of His kingdom, instead of our own or that of man in general, is the highest aim that any of us can have. Accepting this focus will mean that we embrace His priorities as outlined in His Word and walk by His Spirit that He has put within us as our Guide. If we as God’s people would grab on to such a charge, there is no telling just how much blessing we might feel, good we might bring, and better sleep we might enjoy. And even as suffering will still be our lot, something many will know more than others with none exempt, the joy of looking ahead to a better day with our Savior will sustain us. Renew your trust in this good and sovereign Jesus today.

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